Top-selling Suzuki Swift Posts Further Advances in New Zealand Sales

The Suzuki Swift, New Zealand’s most popular small car, is making further advances with increased sales and heightened domination in the light car sector.

While year to date registration figures for all new passenger cars rose by 1.5 percent, sales of new Swifts were up by 29.0 percent. At the same time the Swift penetration of the light car segment increased to a class-leading 32.1 percent - up from a 30.1 percent share for the same January-October period in 2021.The Swift has been the top selling Suzuki in New Zealand since the introduction of the 2005 model.

While the Swift that is available now is completely new from the ground up compared to the original version, it continues to offer the attributes that have made Swift a Kiwi favourite. Its sales for the last ten months were also 53.5 percent higher than the second best-selling light segment model.Excellent fuel efficiency and all-round appeal continue to make the award winning Swift a hit with private new vehicle buyers and a long-time number one seller.In its latest form, the Swift’s previous accolades include being voted the AMI New Zealand Autocar Car of the Year, the AA Driven Best in Class and the AA Driven People’s Choice Car of the Year.

In an evaluation of the Swift GL automatic, the AA said the car “raises the safety, ups the style and maximises pure driving enjoyment”.

“When it comes to safety and price it shouts value for money, and we can see why owners fall in love with this fun car,” said the AA.

Five of the seven versions of the Swift available in New Zealand qualify for rebates under the Government’s Clean Car Discount Programme, including an eco-friendly Hybrid with stop-start and electric engine assist for outstanding fuel efficiency. The affordable entry level 1.2 GL manual has a recommended retail price of $21,990 and qualifies for a claim rebate of $2,593.45. The Swift Hybrid has an official combined fuel consumption of 4.1 litres/100 km (NEDC) and remarkably low CO2 emissions of 94 g/km (NEDC) that entitles the model to a claim rebate of $3,160.52.

“Consumers like the light controls, responsiveness and fun factor of the iconic and good looking Swift,” said Gary Collins, General Manager of Motor Vehicle Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand Ltd. “As with other Suzuki models they also have an impressive reputation for reliability and they appreciate the Swift’s 5-Star ANCAP safety rating across all the automatic versions.”

Top versions of the Swift include as standard dual sensor brake support, lane departure warning and prevention, weaving alert, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and parking sensors.

The trendy four-wheel-drive Suzuki Jimny has also been making sales gains with high demand for the versatile and practical vehicle. Jimny sales year to date were up 11.8 percent while the total small SUV market decreased by 12 percent. The Jimny also increased its share of the small SUV sector by 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

While total new passenger and SUV sales have risen by just 3.8 percent year to date, Suzuki car and SUV volume lifted 36.1 percent in October with strong demand for all models.

Named one of the cleanest new vehicle brands in New Zealand, the Suzuki range has also been lifted by the recent arrival of a newly made over S-Cross Turbo range and improved supplies of the popular and well equipped Vitara.